KU’s Clark, Manthe named Academic All-Americans

Kansas University juniors Kim Clark and Megan Manthe were named to the 2004 Academic All-America Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field Team in the University Division, the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) announced Thursday.

Clark, a biochemistry major, was named to the 15-member first team after earning a 4.0 GPA. The Elkhorn, Neb., native was a part of the women’s 4×400-meter relay team that took 20th at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Manthe, who was named to the third team, also recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in biochemistry. The native of Anoka, Minn., helped guide the women’s cross country team to a fifth-place finish in the NCAA Midwest Regionals this past fall. She placed 17th individually at the meet.

Hockey

Player charged for punch

Vancouver, British Columbia — Canucks player Todd Bertuzzi was charged Thursday with assault for a sucker-punch that left Colorado’s Steve Moore with a broken neck and prompted widespread criticism of hockey violence.

The charges were announced by the criminal justice branch of the ministry of the attorney general after a four-month investigation.

Bertuzzi was ordered to appear in court July 9. If convicted, the 29-year-old player could face a penalty ranging from jail time to a guilty decision with no criminal record.

Moore was hospitalized after the March 8 attack with three fractured vertebrae, facial cuts, post-concussion symptoms and amnesia. Doctors said it wasn’t known when, or if, he would play again.

The NHL suspended Bertuzzi for the final 13 games of the regular season and Vancouver’s seven playoff games. The suspension cost Bertuzzi nearly $502,000, and the Canucks were fined $250,000.

College basketball

Knight staying at Tech

Lubbock, Texas — Scratch Bob Knight’s name off the list of candidates for the Ohio State coaching job.

The Texas Tech coach released a statement Thursday night saying he had been told that his alma mater wouldn’t be considering him.

“Last night, a friend of mine from Columbus called me to say that the athletic director had decided not to discuss the vacancy with me. Therefore, there was no need for me to consider it,” Knight said.

The Buckeyes are looking for a replacement for Jim O’Brien, who was fired on June 8 after athletic director Andy Geiger said O’Brien admitted he had given $6,000 to a recruit in 1999.

Knight agreed earlier this month to a three-year extension of his contract with the Red Raiders, which would keep him at Tech until 2009. Nonetheless, his name was linked because of his ties to the Buckeyes.